Common Accommodations

Test Taking Accommodation:

Note: Ability Services plays no role on arranging accommodations for "placement tests" (the tests all Freshmen are expected to take before registering for their first courses). For accommodations on placement tests contact Mr. Tim O'Connor as soon as possible at tnoconno@wisc.edu. Ability Services only arranges the following test taking accommodations for the tests that professors give in their courses.

Extended time is usually 50% more time to take a test. Greater percentages of additional time, and opportunity to take breaks during tests may also be possible if justified by documentation.

Questions read out loud. Almost always the person who’s reading the questions is not the professor who wrote the test, so in that situation the wording of questions cannot be changed.

Writing Assistance allows students to answer questions out loud while someone else does the writing.

Alternative test taking locations can reduce distractions that might occur in the classroom.

Copies of Lecture Notes:

Professors may choose to provide copies of their own lecture notes to the student, or ask the student to obtain any copies of notes through Ability Services. Lecture notes that come from Ability Services are usually obtained from a classmate. The office scans the classmate's notes and posts them on the Internet. The student who is supposed to receive the notes may then obtain them with any computer that can connect to the Internet. The classmate does not have to know the identity of the student. Usually notes that are provided by the office are handwritten versions. Typically, the office only arranges typed notes when documentation sufficiently indicates the student's issue creates a substantial reason that handwritten notes won't be adequate. The accommodation of copies of lecture notes is usually not intended to be a substitute for class attendance. Often professors are teaching with methods that can require class attendance.

Text Accommodations:

Text accommodations could be audio textbooks, electronic textbooks, or written transcripts of audio media such as the soundtracks of a videos. Typically the office must develop these accommodations itself (versus being able to purchase them commercially). The U.S. Copyright Law usually makes it illegal to develop the accommodations unless a student's documentation thoroughly indicates the need, and the student has signed certain agreements to honor a publisher's copyright. Because of these things it can take the office considerable time to deliver text accommodations.

Interpreters:

Sign language services are available for deaf students during classes, any course activities that professors require outside of class, for necessary meetings with representatives of the university, and at UWRF sponsored events. Because all the interpreters are private practice professionals who need to sign contracts with UWRF, this usually takes considerable time to set-up. The ideal time to contact Ability Services about this accommodation is immediately after you've applied to attend UWRF.

Other Reasonable Accommodations:

Other kinds of reasonable and appropriate accommodations can be arranged. Documentation should sufficiently explain why they are necessary. This can include changes to the routine ways that common accommodations typically occur (above).